The J.C. Whitney planing mill at Carthage appeared in the January 1905 Reference Book of the Lumbermen's Credit Association and in the 1907 edition. On June 8, 1909, Jno C. Whitney executed a Deed of Trust to Miss Kate L. Whitney in the amount of $2,000 for his sawmill plant in Carthage, Rusk Texas. The plant was located on Lot 128 and consisted of a sawmill, a steam engine, a boiler, a #2 H & B planer, etc.
On January 20, 1909, a document was filed at the county court house, which contracted Whitney to lease his cut to Ogburn-Dalchau Lumber Company of Dallas for twelve months at $2,000. On September 23, 1909, John C. Whitney mortgaged his entire mill cut for ninety days to Ogburn-Dalchau Lumber Company of Dallas for $1,000.